Walking Across the Brooklyn Bridge By Ellen Freudenheim Updated January 15, 2017. The Brooklyn Bridge connects two great New York City boroughs: Manhattan and Brooklyn. You can walk it, drive it, bike it, or just admire it. One way or the other, the Brooklyn Bridge is a must-visit when traveling to Brooklyn. In fact, it's not just an enjoyable experience for tourists, many born-and-bred New Yorkers find themselves still charmed by the bridge. There's a dedicated pedestrian walkway on the Brooklyn Bridge, above the roaring car traffic, so it's a wonderful stroll. First, decide which side you will start from: Brooklyn or Manhattan? How to Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge Starting in Brooklyn Starting in Brooklyn: The Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walk can be accessed on the Brooklyn side from two entrance ways. The Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walkway begins at the intersection of Tillary Street and Boerum Place. This entrance is what one sees from a car when crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. The second way to get onto the Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walkway is to access it via an underpass on Washington Street. The underpass is about two blocks from Front Street in Brooklyn.

This underpass leads up a stairway to a ramp up that brings you onto the Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walkway. continue reading below our video How to Walk the Brooklyn Bridge Which subway gets you closest to the Brooklyn Bridge on the Brooklyn side? Many subways run close to the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn Bridge. But all involve a walk of a third to two-thirds of a mile before arriving at the bridge. (This is useful to know if one has young children in tow, or is wearing impossible shoes.) Also, to avoid frustrating route changes, always check subway schedules on the New York City MTA Trip Planner website for possible route changes, especially on weekends. The absolutely closest, but least pretty route, is to take the A or C subway to the High Street-Brooklyn Bridge stop. Go right on Pearl Street, then left on Prospect Street to Washington Street. Look on the left for the entrance to the underpass on Washington Street. The underpass leads up a stairway to a ramp up, and voila! You will have arrived on the Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Path. Beware zooming cyclists.

(Distance: quarter of a mile to the Brooklyn Bridge walkway) For a more charming adventure, exit the 2 and 3 subways at Clark Street Station, ride the elevator to street level, and walk to your left onto historic little Henry Street. Head downhill towards the un-miss-able Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. Cross Henry Street at Cranberry Street and take the pathway through the Co-op houses. Walk across the street known as Cadman Plaza West. Then follow the path through tiny Cadman Plaza Park to Washington Street (which is also known as Cadman Plaza East). On Washington Street, take the underpass on the left, up a stairway to the Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Path. (Distance: a third of a mile to the Brooklyn Bridge walkway) If you're prone to getting lost, take the longer, but straighter route: Take the 2,3, 4,5, N or R subways to Borough Hall. Walk along Boerum Place (incorrectly labeled as Adams Street on some online maps) for about twelve minutes, passing the Brooklyn Marriott on the right. Cross onto the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian path at Tillary Street.

(Distance: two thirds of a mile to the Brooklyn Bridge walkway) The coolest and fastest way to return is by New York Water Taxi : This is a seasonal, paid service, and schedules vary. Call (212) 742.1969, or see the WaterTaxi website. Getting Back to Brooklyn You can walk back, of course. Or, take the J, Z,4 or 5 from City Hall, or the 2, 3 from Chambers Street back to Brooklyn. How to Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge Starting in Manhattan Ah! This is much easier, but the views are not as good as going in the other direction. The Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walk can be accessed from City Hall on the Manhattan side of the East River . Which subway gets you closest to the Brooklyn Bridge on the Manhattan side? The closest trains are the 4, 5, 6, J or Z to Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall. If you are traveling from Manhattan's west side, and don't mind walking an extra three blocks, take the 1, 2 or 3 train to Chambers Street, and walk east. From City Hall , cross Park Row to begin the walk across the Bridge.

Getting Back to Manhattan It's easy as pie to return from whence you came. If you want to return to Manhattan, either just walk back over the Brooklyn Bridge, or hop on the subway. You can get the 2,3,4,5, N or R trains at Borough Hall , the A or C at High Street Brooklyn, or the 2,3 at Clark Street. Cabs can be found at a cab station at the Brooklyn Marriott or you can get a green taxi through UberX or you can take an Uber or use another app to get a car. Or visitors can call a local car service. There is no bus service over the Brooklyn Bridge. But in warm weather you can catch an enjoyable ride on the New York Water Taxi , (212) 742-1969. Edited by Alison Lowenstein Emily Roebling and How the Brooklyn Bridge Was Built – Brain Pickings The Silent Music of the Mind: Remembering Oliver Sacks Emily Roebling and How the Brooklyn Bridge Was Built What wire-walkers and medical mysteries have to do with the world’s deepest pit and the secret female engineer behind an architectural icon.

By Michelle Legro On the afternoon of August 24, 1876, an announcement was made in the Brooklyn Eagle that a man would attempt to cross the Brooklyn Bridge. The next day, thousands of people lined the river on the Manhattan and Brooklyn waterfronts to see the feat. Built over the past six years, the massive anchors of the bridge were the tallest structures in the city, twin cathedrals on the river. Between them was a negative space of huge potential, the largest suspension bridge in the world. For the moment, however, the bridge was nothing but a single string cable, impossibly thin and hard to see, twisting in the wind. At half past one, E.F. Farrington, the sixty-year-old Master Mechanic of the massive architectural project, stepped onto a boatswain’s chair — essentially a two-foot plank of wood — and swung out over the river. Below, a traffic-jam of sailboats and ferries had stopped to watch as a man seemingly flew above them, reaching the other side in seven minutes to a huge shout from the Brooklyn side. The first crossing of the Brooklyn Bridge had been achieved.

The Great Bridge ( public library ), David McCullough’s phenomenal 1972 history of a bridge that has been an icon of the city for nearly 130 years, has been reissued this year for its 40th anniversary. The story that McCullough tells is a thrilling tale of engineering genius, bureaucratic hang-ups, medical breakthroughs, and an architectural ambition that transformed New York forever. On August 24, 1876, E.F. Farrington, Master Mechanic of the Brooklyn Bridge, made the first crossing across the East River on a wire. Like the vision of a man zip-lining across the East River, The Great Bridge tells many little-known facts about the bridge, including the daily toil of “caisson disease” — better known today as the bends — on the bridge workers. It was an illness that stupefied medical professionals and struck down the engineer of the bridge itself, Washington Roebling , who had taken over the project after the death of his father, J.A. Roebling . After the single-wire crossing, bridge-workers, many of whom were former sailors, would start to attach the suspension cables.

(Brooklyn Museum) There were two phases of work for those who toiled on the bridge: the six-year project to dig out the bases for the two towers, and the stringing of the cables, which took nearly as long. The first workers were expected to work in shifts of five or six hours down in the “caisson,” the massive pit that anchored the structure to the earth. There was no deeper pit in the world, and the men who went down into it would travel through several airlocks. Inside the caisson everything wore an unreal, weird appearance….With the flaming lights, the deep shadows, the confusing noise of hammers, drills, and chains, the half-naked forms flitting about, with here and there a Sisyphus rolling his stone, one might, if of a poetic temperament, have a realizing sense of Dante’s inferno. More than two hundred workers would descend into the caisson each day, and newspaper reporters would relate their stories of the slimy, hot, airless working conditions. As the depth increased, so did the danger — and so did the pay. A man working in the pit could make in hours what a regular laborer might make in a month.

But soon men started to come out of the hole dizzy and bleeding, and a doctor was called to investigate the illness that seemed to strike down everyone who went down below. The doctor then realized that the sickness only struck men who scrambled to get out of the hellish hole, rather than those who gradually came out over the course of an hour or so. It was one of the first diagnoses of the bends in human history. A view of Brooklyn from the bridge, c. 1876 (Brooklyn Museum) One of those to become very sick from the bends was chief engineer Washington Roebling, who had taken over the project when his father died. Halfway through the construction, Roebling became confined to his home in Brooklyn Heights, where he could watch the progress from a second-floor window. His wife, Emily, became the public face of the project. She would meet with his engineers, suppliers, and business partners in the parlor of their house, learning complex matters of physics about the strength of cable and the catenary curves necessary for a successful suspension. After chief engineer became sick due to the bends while working on the Bridge, Emily Roebling would take over many of her husband’s duties, teaching herself the essentials of physics, architecture, and engineering.

(Brooklyn Museum) Emily Roebling would also travel to the site to walk the temporary footbridge that became a dangerous but popular attraction for New Yorkers: “Safe for only 25 men at one time,” a sign read at the entrance. “Do not walk close together nor run, jump, or trot. Break step!” The temporary footbridge that allowed workers to access the cable was also a popular tourist attraction. (Nationaal Archief) When the bridge opened in 1883, it was called the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” and rightly so. No project had combined such expertise in excavation, suspension, and architectural aesthetics in one of the busiest metropolises in the world. Much like New York Diaries and The Greatest Grid , The Great Bridge is a reminder that any enduring symbol is constructed from a constellation of stories. Michelle Legro is an associate editor at Lapham’s Quarterly . You can find her on Twitter . donating = loving Bringing you (ad-free) Brain Pickings takes me hundreds of hours each month. If you find any joy and stimulation here, please consider becoming a Supporting Member with a recurring monthly donation of your choosing, between a cup of tea and a good dinner.

Monthly donation 10 Things You May Not Know About the Brooklyn Bridge - History in the Headlines 10 Things You May Not Know About the Brooklyn Bridge May 23, 2013 By Jesse Greenspan Share One of New York’s most famous landmarks, the Brooklyn Bridge transports 120,000 vehicles and 4,000 pedestrians every day. Share this: 10 Things You May Not Know About the Brooklyn Bridge Author 10 Things You May Not Know About the Brooklyn Bridge URL Google The Brooklyn Bridge opened to the public on May 24, 1883, thereby connecting Manhattan with Brooklyn for the first time. Dubbed the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” early visitors gawked at its immense granite towers and thick steel cables, not to mention its birds-eye views. The bridge, which took 14 years and around $15 million to complete, remains among New York City’s top tourist attractions and a busy thoroughfare for commuters. Check out 10 things you may not know about the frequently photographed landmark. 1. Boss Tweed helped get the project started. William M.

“Boss” Tweed, the infamously corrupt head of New York City’s Tammany Hall political machine, latched on to the Brooklyn Bridge project from the very beginning. According to sworn testimony he gave later, he facilitated up to $65,000 in bribes to New York’s aldermen in order to win their backing for a $1.5 million bond issue. He then became a major holder of bridge stock and joined a committee charged with managing the project’s finances. Tweed allegedly hoped to skim money from the city’s bridge contracts, much as he had done with other large public works. But he was arrested in 1871 before he could fully realize his plan. It has since been estimated that Tweed and his cronies stole at least $45 million, and perhaps as much as $200 million, from the public coffers during their time in power. 2. At least 20 people died during the bridge’s construction. The first fatality came in 1869 before construction had even begun. German-born John A. Roebling, who designed the bridge, was taking compass readings one afternoon when his foot was crushed between some pilings and a boat.

His toes were amputated, and a few weeks later he died of tetanus. Other workers fell off the 276-foot-high towers, were hit by falling debris or succumbed to caisson disease, better known as “the bends. “No official figure exists for the number of men killed, but estimates range from 20 to over 30. Dozens more suffered debilitating injuries, including Roebling’s son Washington, who became bedridden with the bends after taking over as chief engineer from his father. 3. It was the longest suspension bridge in the world—by far. A few high-profile collapses in the first half of the 19th century prevented suspension bridges from immediately catching on. Undeterred, Roebling figured out how to stabilize them, largely by adding a web truss to either side of the roadway platform. He built four suspension bridges in the 1850s and 1860s, including one over the Ohio River and another near Niagara Falls. All would later be dwarfed by the Brooklyn Bridge, which, with a main span of more just over 1,595 feet, was by far the longest suspension bridge in the world.

It remained that way until 1903, when the nearby Williamsburg Bridge overtook it by 4.5 feet. 4. The bridge opened with a massive celebration. Huge crowds gathered on May 24, 1883, to watch the bridge’s opening ceremony, which The New York Times described, in reference to Brooklyn, as “the greatest gala day in the history of that moral suburb.” President Chester A. Arthur, New York Governor (and future president) Grover Cleveland and various local politicians marched onto the bridge, accompanied by a military band and an attachment of troops. Celebratory cannon fire rang out when they reached the Manhattan-side tower. The festivities also included an hour-long fireworks display, receptions and a number of speeches. Just before midnight the bridge opened to the public, and more than 150,000 people streamed across over the next 24 hours. Not everyone was happy, however. Many Irish boycotted the ceremony because it coincided with the birthday of British monarch Queen Victoria. 5. A tragedy occurred almost immediately.

A week after the opening, on Memorial Day, an estimated 20,000 people were on the bridge when a panic started, allegedly over a rumor that it was about to collapse. Twelve people were crushed to death on a narrow stairway, and others emerged bloodied and in some cases without clothes. One eyewitness described men and women “with their limbs contorted and their faces purpling in their agonized efforts to breathe.” No changes came about in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, except that more police were stationed on the pedestrian promenade. 6. The bridge toll was higher then than it is now. When the Brooklyn Bridge first opened, it cost a penny to cross by foot, 5 cents for a horse and rider and 10 cents for a horse and wagon. Farm animals were allowed at a price of 5 cents per cow and 2 cents per sheep or hog. Under pressure from civic groups and commuters, the pedestrian toll was repealed in 1891. The roadway tolls were then rescinded in 1911 with the support of New York Mayor William J.

Gaynor, who declared, “I see no more reason for toll gates on the bridges than for toll gates on Fifth Avenue or Broadway.” The Brooklyn Bridge and three other bridges that likewise cross the East River have stayed free ever since for both walkers and drivers, even as New York’s other major bridges and tunnels have gotten steadily more expensive. 7. At the time, the bridge connected two different cities. Brooklyn did not become part of New York City until 1898, following a referendum that passed there by just 277 votes (out of more than 129,000 cast). Prior to the merger, it was the fourth most populous city in the country—behind only New York, Chicago and Philadelphia—with loads of manufacturing jobs, many churches, relatively low crime and good schools. 8. The bridge quickly became a cultural sensation. The Brooklyn Bridge has arguably inspired more art than any other manmade structure in the United States.

Georgia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol and dozens of other well-known painters have incorporated it into their works, as have photographers (Walker Evans); documentarians (Ken Burns); playwrights (Arthur Miller); novelists (Henry Miller); newspaper columnists (Jimmy Breslin); urban historians (Lewis Mumford); poets (Jack Kerouac); and musicians (Wyclef Jean). It likewise has had a slew of TV shows and movie cameos, including “The Docks of New York,” “It Happened in Brooklyn,” “Moonstruck,” “Godzilla” and “Spider-Man.” Meanwhile, advertisers have used the bridge to sell everything from Vaseline to Absolut Vodka, and it is even the symbol of an Italian chewing gum. 9. The bridge has always attracted daredevils and showmen. Circus entertainer P.T. Barnum took 21 elephants over the bridge in May 1884 to show that it was safe. The following year, Robert E. Odlum, a swimming instructor from Washington, D.C., became the first to leap into the East River below.

He died, but a number of later jumpers survived, including one man allegedly trying to impress his girlfriend and another who wore large canvas wings. Other stuntmen have flown planes under the bridge and bungee jumped from or climbed its towers. 10. Peregrine falcons nest atop it. Peregrine falcons are the fastest animals on record, capable of reaching speeds over 200 miles per hour. They disappeared from the eastern United States due to DDT poisoning, but made a comeback after the pesticide was banned in 1972. Surprisingly, the birds soon began thriving in New York City, where they nest on bridges, church steeples and skyscrapers. Today, about 16 pairs of peregrines live in the Big Apple, and the Brooklyn Bridge has become one of their regular nesting sites. Tags NYC DOT - Brooklyn Bridge Brooklyn Bridge 繁體字 (Traditional Chinese) (pdf) Rebuilding the Bridge The Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883. At the time, it was the longest suspension bridge. It has been designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service, and a New York City Landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

As with any element of the city's transportation infrastructure, the bridge requires periodic repairs and upgrades. The current round of construction and repainting of the bridge, partially funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will run until 2014. There will be overnight diversions of Manhattan-bound traffic, with traffic diverted to other East River crossings: the Manhattan Bridge, the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel and the Williamsburg Bridge. Brooklyn-bound traffic will be maintained over the Brooklyn Bridge. There are no scheduled closures for pedestrians and cyclists. Contract #6 Contract #6 provides for the rehabilitation, repair and re-striping of the ramps and approaches to the Brooklyn Bridge, to improve safety and reduce congestion along both the Brooklyn-side and Manhattan-side approaches, particularly from the FDR Drive. In addition, the entire bridge will be repainted to prevent steel corrosion. Improving Roadway Access and Safety Under this contract, DOT will replace the existing roadway pavement, and rehabilitate historic arch blocks, railings, and masonry structures. At the exit onto Cadman Plaza, and on the FDR southbound roadway, DOT will re-stripe the existing ramps from one to two lanes to reduce bottlenecks and eliminate pinch points in traffic flow.

DOT will increase the overhead clearance at the York Street arch over the BQE, which is currently lower than industry standards. DOT will perform seismic retrofitting at the Franklin Square arch over Pearl Street. On all the bridge approach structures on both the Manhattan and Brooklyn sides, the existing deck will be removed by lifting out sections and replacing them panel by panel with precast concrete-filled steel grid deck panels. This approach will greatly reduce noise from drilling and jackhammers, and will also increase the reliability of the start and end times of construction activities every night. The first phase of Contract #6 is painting, which will take place in negative-pressure containment units that travel along the bridge structure. Painting will take approximately four years, and will prevent steel corrosion and improve aesthetics. Equipment has been placed on land abutting the Brooklyn tower, and will be placed on barges anchored to the Manhattan tower. All painting work is being conducted in accordance to the US Environmental Protection Act and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation requirements. Dust collection, vacuum and recycling units are being employed to minimize environmental air quality risks, and there is continuous air monitoring during operations. Noise generated by these units conforms to the NYC Noise Code standards adopted in 2007.

Learn more from the Department of Environmental Protection On the Brooklyn side, DOT will create two lanes of free-flowing traffic at the Cadman Plaza exit create additional overhead clearance at the York Street arch over the BQE replace the road surface on all approach roadways On the Manhattan side, DOT will perform seismic retrofitting on the Franklin Square arch over Pearl Street replace rusted railings and safety barriers create two lanes of free-flowing traffic from the southbound FDR Drive onto the Brooklyn Bridge replace the road surface on all approach roadways Traffic Changes More than 120,000 vehicles, 4,000 pedestrians and 3,100 bicyclists cross the Brooklyn Bridge every day. DOT aims to minimize the disruption that rehabilitation work will cause for everyone who uses the Bridge. Download the Brooklyn Bridge brochure for detailed entrance and exit changes Download the brochure in Bengali Download in Chinese (Traditional) 繁體字 Download in Chinese (Simplified) 简体字 Download in French Download in Haitian Creole Download in Hindi Download in Russian Download in Spanish Download in Urdu Overnight Detours During overnight closures, the ramp from eastbound Wagner Place onto the southbound FDR Drive will be closed.

It will remain open at other times, such as during peak travel periods, special events, or inclement weather. A signed detour route will be available along Pearl Street. Full Manhattan-bound Closures Continuing until the project completion in January of 2017, Manhattan-bound traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge may be detoured to the Manhattan Bridge as needed to accommodate construction. The bridge will always remain open to Brooklyn-bound traffic. When work is underway on the Brooklyn-bound side of the bridge (south roadway), a " contraflow " operation will be in effect. Please contact DOT to be notified of Manhattan-bound closures.

Check the Weekend Traffic Advisory for upcoming traffic changes Unless otherwise notified of specific occurrences, nighttime closures are as follows: Overnight Detours for Manhattan-Bound Traffic Fri night/Sat morn (7/15): No closure Sat night/Sun morn (7/16): No closure Sun night/Mon morn (7/17): No closure Mon - Thurs night (7/18 - 7/23): No closure * To allow traffic to clear before the reversal begins, the eastbound BQE exit onto the bridge closes 30 minutes earlier, the northbound FDR Drive exits close up to an hour earlier, and other Brooklyn ramps onto the bridge shut down 5-15 minutes earlier. As of March 26th, 2015 and lasting through December 2015 the Brooklyn Bridge promenade will be reduced in width for pedestrians and cyclists at various locations. At the towers, the work zone will be in effect continuously during this period. On the Brooklyn approach work will be conducted only during overnight hours. Pedestrians and cyclists will be directed to cautiously share the narrowed pathway.

Manhattan-Bound Traffic Detour for Manhattan-bound traffic During full Manhattan-bound closures, DOT anticipates heavy usage of the adjacent Manhattan Bridge. To reduce congestion, Manhattan-bound travelers are encouraged to: Sign up for email updates to stay informed of closures. Use the subway. Visit for routes and schedules. Use alternate routes as described in the Brooklyn Bridge brochure . Depending on the phase of work, a Manhattan-bound closure may not be in effect every night. On nights without a full Manhattan-bound closure, a partial two-lane closure on the Manhattan-bound lanes of the Brooklyn Bridge may in place instead. Please contact DOT to be notified of Manhattan-bound closures. Brooklyn-Bound Traffic During the rehabilitation work, drivers will always be able to reach Brooklyn via the Brooklyn Bridge. When work is in progress on the Brooklyn-bound lanes (south roadway), a "contraflow" operation will be in effect. Traffic will be detoured to the north roadway toward Brooklyn. Signage and barriers will direct motorists to safely enter and exit the bridge. Traffic changes during contraflow.

Single Lane Closures To survey sites for upcoming work, the contractor may close one lane of traffic in each direction during these times: Manhattan-bound lanes: Sunday - 1:00 am to 9:00 am Saturday - 1:00 am to 7:00 am Monday night to Friday 11:00 pm to 6:00 am Brooklyn-bound lanes: Weekdays - 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturday - 2:00 am to 2:00 pm Sunday - 2:00 am to 2:00 pm Pedestrian and Bicycling Promenade The promenade will remain open throughout all phases of construction. However, in order to fully enclose railings and other components, the paint removal containment units will reduce the width of the path by 1.5 feet on each side. The narrowed area will be from 600 to 1000 feet long. For the safety of all bridge users, cyclists must yield to pedestrians in this restricted work zone. Cyclists may also use the nearby Manhattan Bridge bike path, which is separated from the pedestrian path and often less congested.

As work progresses the units will move across the bridge until the project is complete. Project Updates DOT and its consultants will make every effort to post specific notifications about major traffic changes or other potentially disruptive events at least 7 days in advance via e-mail, Facebook , Twitter and Notify NYC . Please contact David Deberry, the Brooklyn Bridge Community Liaison at 347-647-0876 or brooklynbridgeoutreach@gmail.com with your questions. Download the latest project newsletter for more updates (Spring 2015) Download the latest project newsletter for more updates (Fall 2014) Download the latest project newsletter for more updates (Spring 2014) Sign up for email updates about the project. Subscribe top ten New York Bridges top ten New York Bridges For a more complete list, see Bridge John Augustus Roebling , completed by son, Washington Augustus Roebling location East River. Park Row, Manhattan to Adams Street, Brooklyn.

date Gothic piers, Structural Expressionis t cables and bridge deck construction steel cable, stone masonry piers type suspension Bridge The Brooklyn Bridge, one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States, stretches 5,989 feet (1825 m)[1] over the East River connecting the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. On completion, it was the largest suspension bridge in the world and the first steel-wire suspension bridge. Originally referred to as the New York and Brooklyn Bridge, it was dubbed the Brooklyn Bridge in an 1867 letter to the editor of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle,[2] and formally so named by the city government in 1915. Since its opening, it has become an iconic part of the New York skyline. In 1964 it was designated a National Historic Landmark. 2 Manhattan Bridge architect Gustav Lindenthal ,Nichols, Modjeski and Leon Moisseiff. location East River between Canal Street, Manhattan and Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn. date Suspension Bridge The Manhattan Bridge is a suspension bridge that crosses the East River in New York City, connecting Lower Manhattan (at Canal Street) with Brooklyn (at Flatbush Avenue Extension).

It was the last of the three suspension bridges built across the lower East River, following the Brooklyn and the Williamsburg bridges. The bridge was opened to traffic on December 31, 1909 and was designed and built by Polish bridge engineer Ralph Modjeski with the deflection cables designed by Leon Moisseiff, who later designed the infamous Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940. It has 4 vehicle lanes on the upper level (split between two roadways), and 3 vehicle lanes, 4 subway tracks, a walkway and a bikeway on the lower level. The upper level, originally used for streetcars, has 2 lanes in each direction, and the lower level can be one-way in peak direction or have 2 lanes in one direction and the other in the opposite direction. It once carried New York State Route 27 and later was planned to carry Interstate 478. No tolls are charged for motor vehicles to use Manhattan Bridge. The original pedestrian walkway on the south side of the bridge was reopened after sixty years in June 2001.

It was also used by bicycles until late summer 2004, when a dedicated bicycle path was opened on the north side of the bridge, and again in 2007 while the bike lane was used for truck access during repairs to the lower motor roadway. 3 Williamsburg Bridge architect Suspension Bridge Construction on the bridge, the second to cross this river, began in 1896, with Leffert L. Buck as chief engineer, Henry Hornbostel as architect and Holton D. Robinson as assistant engineer, and the bridge opened on December 19, 1903 at a cost of $12,000,000. At the time it was constructed, the Williamsburg Bridge was the largest suspension bridge on Earth, and remained so until the Bear Mountain Bridge was completed in 1924. It is an unconventional structure, as suspension bridges go; though the main span hangs from cables in the usual manner, the side spans leading to the approaches are cantilevered, drawing no support from the cables above. The main span of the bridge is 1600 feet (488 m) long.

The entire bridge is 7308 feet (2227 m) long between cable anchor terminals, and the deck is 118 feet (36 m) wide. The height at the center of the bridge is 135 feet (41 m) and each tower is 335 feet (102 m); these measurements taken from the river's surface at high water mark. 4 George Washington Bridge architect Suspension Bridge The George Washington Bridge (known informally as the GW Bridge[3], the GWB[4], the GW[5], or the George[6]) is a suspension bridge spanning the Hudson River, connecting the Washington Heights neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City to Fort Lee in New Jersey by means of Interstate 95, U.S. Route 1/9. U.S. Route 46, which is entirely in New Jersey, ends halfway across the bridge at the state border.

The GW is considered one of the world's busiest bridges in terms of vehicle traffic;[7] In 2004, the bridge carried 108,404,000 vehicles, with current AADT estimates of nearly 300,000 vehicles daily. The GW span is the fourth largest suspension bridge in the United States. The bridge contains two levels, an upper level with four lanes in each direction and a lower level with three lanes in each direction, for a total of 14 lanes of travel. Additionally, the bridge houses a path on each side of the bridge for pedestrian traffic. The speed limit on the bridge is 45 mph (70 km/h), though heavy traffic is common and frequently makes it difficult to reach such speeds. 5 Hel Steel arch Bridge The Hell Gate Bridge (originally the New York Connecting Railroad Bridge or The East River Arch Bridge) is a 1,017-foot (310 m) steel arch railroad bridge between Astoria in the borough of Queens and Randalls and Wards Islands (which are now joined into one island and are politically part of Manhattan) in New York City, over a portion of the East River known as Hell Gate.

The Bridge is used by Amtrak and by some CSX, Canadian Pacific, Providence & Worcester Railroad, and New York and Atlantic freight trains. The bridge and structure are owned by Amtrak, part of its Washington, D.C. to Boston electrified main line known as the Northeast Corridor. Metro-North Railroad trains may one day run on the bridge. The bridge is also part of the New York Connecting Railroad, a rail line that links New York City and Long Island to the North American mainland. The Hell Gate Bridge runs parallel to the Queens span of the Triborough Bridge, which connects Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan, and drivers can see the length of the bridge just east of the roadway. The great arch bridge is the largest of three bridges, along with more than 17,000 feet (5.2 km) long of approach spans and viaducts, that form the Hell Gate complex. An inverted bowstring truss bridge with four 300-foot spans crosses the Little Hell Gate (now filled in); and a 350-foot fixed truss bridge crosses the Bronx Kills (also now filled in).

6 Queensboro Bridge architect Cantilever Bridge The Queensboro Bridge, also known as the 59th Street Bridge, is a cantilever bridge over the East River in New York City that was completed in 1909. It connects the neighborhood of Long Island City in the borough of Queens with Manhattan, passing over Roosevelt Island. It carries New York State Route 25 and once carried NY 24 and NY 25A as well. The Queensboro Bridge is the westernmost of the four East River spans that carry a route number: NY 25 terminates at the west (Manhattan) side of the bridge. It is commonly called the "59th Street Bridge" by New York City residents because its Manhattan end is located between 59th and 60th Streets. 7 Triborough Bridge architect Suspension Bridge The Triborough Bridge is a complex of three bridges connecting the New York City boroughs of the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens, using what were two islands, Ward's Island and Randall's Island as intermediate rights-of-way between the water crossings. These two islands have been consolidated by landfill. The bridges span the Hell Gate (a tidal channel of the East River), Harlem River, and Bronx Kill.

Construction had begun on Black Friday in 1929, and the Triborough project's outlook began to look bleak. Othmar Ammann's assistance was enlisted to help simplify the structure. Ammann had collapsed the original two-deck roadway into one, requiring lighter towers, and thus, lighter piers. These cost-saving revisions saved $10 million on the towers alone. Using New Deal money, the project was resurrected in the early 1930s by Robert Moses and the bridge was opened to traffic on July 11, 1936. Its cost was greater than that of the Hoover Dam. 8 Verrazano Bridge architect Bridge The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is a double-decked suspension bridge that connects the boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn in New York City at the Narrows, the reach connecting the relatively protected upper bay with the larger lower bay. The bridge is named for Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, the first known European navigator to enter New York Harbor and the Hudson River, while crossing The Narrows.

It has a center span of 4,260 feet (1,298 m) and was the largest suspension bridge in the world from the time of its completion in 1964 until 1981. It now has the seventh longest center span in the world but still is the largest suspension bridge in the United States. Its massive towers can be seen throughout a good part of the New York metropolitan area, including from spots in all five boroughs of New York City. 9 Pine Bank Bridge architect Bridge Located east of the West Drive at 62nd Street, stands the elegant Pine Bank Bridge, the most well known of all the bridges in Central Park. It is the only cast-iron bridge that still remains over the bridle path near the Heckscher Playground . Two other cast-iron bridges over the bridle path were unfortunately eliminated during its expansion in the 1930s. Nestled between two natural rock outcroppings it has two shaped concrete structures with four posts on both ends of the bridge. Take a stroll along the wood walkway to observe the beauty of its ornate cast-iron handrail, featuring intricate latticework in a Gothic influenced style.

In 1984, the Pine Bank Bridge was restored by the Parks Department. 10 Bow Bridge architect Bridge The majestic grace and style of its unique curved railing as it sweeps 60 feet over the Lake is admired by Central Park visitors from all over the world. For this reason, Bow Bridge has been featured as a memorable locale in many professional film shoots for movies, TV productions and commercials. It harmoniously connects the forested woods of the Ramble to the refined flowering landscape of Cherry Hill. Bow Bridge provides a vast scenic view of the skylines along Fifth Avenue and Central Park West. During the warm weather months, Bow Bridge is the perfect spot to watch rowboats sailing from one side of the Lake to the other. Brooklyn Bridge New York, NY Bridge - MapQuest See a problem? Let us know! The Brooklyn Bridge is best experienced on foot. Completed in 1883 and connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn, thousands of visitors walk, bike, and drive across it every day. The granite pillars that soar above the East River are as impressive as the magnificent views that the bridge offers. It's also easy to include an excursion across the bridge with other must-see sights in Lower Manhattan and historic Brooklyn.

How to get to the Brooklyn Bridge For pedestrian access on the Manhattan side, take the 4, 5, 6, J, or Z train to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall, and cut through City Hall Park. To enter on the Brooklyn side, take the A or C to High Street-Brooklyn Bridge. Cross the street to walk through Cadman Plaza Park. Turn left and find the walkway entrance under the base of the bridge. For the best skyline views, walking toward Manhattan is a good choice. Best and worst time to go to the Brooklyn Bridge Clear, sunny days are the best for taking in the sweeping vistas. At sunset, Manhattan's skyscrapers fade into rosy silhouettes, making it perfect for photos. Weekday afternoons are less crowded than weekends. The wind tends to pick up around the middle of the bridge, so avoid visiting on days that are especially cold or windy. Admission to the Brooklyn Bridge Admission is free to walk, bike, and drive. Must see/do on the Brooklyn Bridge The 1.1 mile length of the bridge can be covered in less than 20 minutes, but leave plenty of time to linger.

You'll want to stop and gaze at the view from a variety of vantage points; be sure not to miss the Statue of Liberty far out in New York Harbor. History buffs will enjoy the bronze plaques scattered along the pillars and rails, detailing the bridge's construction. There are Citi Bike stations located just outside the bridge entrances in both boroughs for those who want to rent bicycles. Other places to visit near the Brooklyn Bridge In Brooklyn, the pedestrian exit leads to Dumbo , a small, trendy neighborhood with boutique shopping, cobblestone-lined streets, and arguably the best pizza in New York at Grimaldi's Pizzeria . The colorful townhouses and tree-lined streets of Brooklyn Heights are also worth a visit. On the Manhattan side, it's an easy walk to the 9/11 Memorial and the restaurants and shopping at South Street Seaport . Insider tip for visitors to the Brooklyn Bridge Bicycle commuters and avid cyclists regularly zoom by at high rates of speed. There are designated lanes for pedestrians, which visitors should adhere to for their own safety. Author's bio: Michele is a travel writer based in New York City. She loves, in equal parts, traveling around the world and finding unexpected adventures close to home.

Question: The Brooklyn Bridge crosses which river?
Answer: The East River